17 Jul

Which Roofing Material Would Be Ideal for Your Roof?

Renovating a roof is a massive undertaking and a project you shouldn’t set out upon lightly. For instance, failing to invest in the right materials or expertise for your roofing project could prove calamitous; your roof could leak, let in draughts, or even collapse if your roof can’t support the weight of your new tiles or shingles.

To help you avoid the worst, here we’re going to look at which roofing material would be ideal for your roof and the crucial things you must always consider.

What to Consider When Choosing Roofing Materials

When you first set out to find new roofing materials for your roof, it’s important to nail down how much you’re willing to spend and how long you want your roof to last. That’s because the longevity of the roofing material will determine how expensive it is.

As such, if your budget is a little tight your choice of materials will be limited to ones that last only a few years. Options like composite shingles and wood shingles can prove an affordable route, but composites can give out in as little as 15 years while wood shingles have a life expectancy of 25 years.

However, for a highly durable, long lasting roof you’ll need to fork out a little more. Metal roofs, wood shake shingles, clay tiles, and slate tiles in particular are all excellent options for guaranteeing longevity, which we’ll look at closer a little later.

But perhaps most importantly, the question you need to ask is: can the roof support the weight of your chosen roofing material?

If you wish to use a roofing material that is more durable than your current material, the roof structure may not be capable of withstanding the additional weight this will likely bring. To find out if your roof can support the weight of your chosen roofing material, contact a professional for an informed opinion.

Long Lasting Roofing Materials

If you do choose to invest heavily in your new roof, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of purchasing far longer lasting roofing materials. These include:

    • Standing Seam Metal Panels – Lasting between 30 and 50 years, these pre-formed metal overheads are highly popular today. They do require a specialist metal roofing company, but once installed it can prove indispensable for decades if you remember to check for flaws or migrating panels.

 

  • Wood Shake Shingles – Wood shakes last approximately 35 to 40 years, being more reliable than traditional wood shingles because they are a lot thicker. That means they endure weather and UV rays much better than their thinner alternative. But you must be vigilant – remove moss and debris as it appears and always replace split shakes immediately to make the most of your roof.
  • Clay (Spanish) Tiles – These tiles can last up to and beyond a hundred years if they are well cared for. Clay tiles won’t decay like wooden shingles, but they can crack if you walk on your roof, so avoid doing so unnecessarily. Cracks are the only real risk with this roofing material, so replace cracked or broken tiles as soon as you can. You should also buff out efflorescence as it develops with a clean, dry towel, and apply a clear alkyd primer to protect your roof, too.
  • Slate Tiles – Slate has the potential to easily last over a century. It is real stone, laid thickly on your roof, and as such offers the best protection and the greatest durability – you can even find slate roofs from Elizabethan times that put some modern roofs to shame. You must ensure your building can support the great weight before making your purchase, but then you can relax. If you replace tiles that break immediately, your roof will quite possibly last forever.

Premier Roofing Materials from Hitchcock & King

For expert advice and the very best roofing materials anywhere in London, look no further than Hitchcock & King. We have over 40 years of experience delivering quality roofing materials to clients throughout the capital, meaning there’s simply no one better to meet your roofing project needs than us.

To find out more about our range of products and how we can help you complete your construction project, simply contact our friendly team today. We even offer fast, reliable delivery services for your complete convenience.